The Executive Director of Voice of Nature (VoNat), Ndimuh B. Shancho, and its Goliath Frog/Amphibians Conservation Initiative recently featured on the National Geographic Kids “Explorer of the Month” Magazine. According to the Deputy Digital Editor of the Magazine, Annabel Lever, “The goal of these features is to inspire young readers through connecting them with real-life scientists, artists, changemakers and more”.
Ndimuh grew up in a forest community in North West Cameroon and it was fun watching chimpanzee and monkeys hover from one tree to another (vocalizing), and hearing incredible stories about them from his grandmother. This developed in him a strong love for the species. When he came back from the university, none of these species could be found again. He was told they have all been hunted. He was devastated! It was at this point that he decided to become a conservationist. While going about his conservation actions in Cameroon, he came across piles of large frogs being sold along the highway. This rekindled bitter memories of how chimpanzees and monkeys disappeared in his community. He told myself: “it might have been late for the chimpanzees and monkeys of my community but certainly not late for these frogs”.
It was at this juncture that he decided to dedicate his life to conserving the world’s largest frog, goliath frog (Conraua goliath) in the Mount Nlonako Area, Littoral Region of Cameroon (between 4°49’-4°56’N and from 9°56’-10°01’E). It is also at this point that the VoNat Amphibians Conservation Initiative was born, with the goal of conserving and protecting the Goliath frog and other endangered amphibians species and their habitats in Cameroon through collaborative research, community engagement and sustainable practices.
With the support of British Ecological Society, Voice for Nature Foundation and National Geographic Society, the organization has mentored and engaged over 200 community kids and youths in the Mount Nlonako Area of Cameroon, a key amphibians hot spot, in carrying action amphibians conservation actions in their communities. Its amphibians conservation efforts over the years have raised conservation consciousness about goliath frog and other endangered amphibians amongst over 10000 persons in Cameroon, with more and more local leaders and hunters are pledging support for endangered amphibians conservation.
The organization is currently mobilizing resources and searching for partnerships for collaborative research and the development and implementation of projects that will deter the extinction risks for endangered amphibians in Cameroon mountains and increased amphibians population and diversity.